Just this morning it was discovered that the long-rumored LG V510 isn't actually a Nexus tablet, but a Google Play Edition of the LG G Pad 8.3. Since the cat's basically out of the bag, LG decided now would be a good time to go ahead and make it official – the G Pad 8.3 will be the first Google Play Edition tablet.

For those who may not be familiar with the G Pad 8.3, it's a fantastic piece of LG hardware with an 8.3-inch display, 2GB RAM, a Snapdragon 600 processor, and 16GB of internal storage. The GPE version of the device will of course launch with stock Android 4.4 as the operating system.

Unfortunately, there's no word as to when it will hit the Store Never mind that, it's already available for the same retail pricing as its Optimus UI-wearing counterpart of $350.

SEOUL, Dec. 11, 2013 — The LG G Pad 8.3 from LG Electronics (LG) will be the first device ever to be designated a Google Play Edition tablet. Google’s first Android Open Source Project (AOSP) tablet will feature the latest Android operating system, Android™ 4.4, KitKat. The LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition reference device will be available for purchase starting today in the United States on Google Play™.With the perfect combination of KitKat’s Full-screen Immersive mode and LG’s stunning 1920 x 1200 WUXGA Full HD IPS display, this special edition of LG G Pad 8.3 offers an optimal viewing experience. Apps can utilize every pixel on the G Pad 8.3 screen to create full-bleed UIs reaching edge to edge. With the ability to hide the system UI such as the status bar and navigation bar, this feature is ideal for rich visual content such as photos, videos, maps, books and games.“LG’s working relationship with Google has always been strong and our collaboration on the first-ever Google Play Edition tablet is proof of that commitment,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of the LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition is a device with hardware and software that has been optimized for a truly consumer-friendly experience. There’s nothing else like it out there in the marketplace.”The LG G Pad 8.3 was designed based on insights from consumers resulting in a compact, modern-looking device accentuating sleek lines and subtle curves for comfortable holding with one hand. The powerful 1.7GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 600 CPU and 4,600mAh battery provide both performance and long-life between charges.The LG G Pad 8.3 Google Play Edition will be available in glossy Indigo Black for USD 349.99. Availability in other countries has not yet been determined at this time.Key Specifications:• Processor: 1.7GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 600 Processor• Operating System: Android™ 4.4, KitKat• Display: 8.3-inch Full HD IPS WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixels / 273 ppi)• Memory: 16GB eMMC• RAM: 2GB LPDDR2• Camera: Rear 5.0MP / Front 1.3MP• Battery: 4,600mAh• Connectivity: Wi-Fi• Size: 216.8 x 126.5 x 8.3mm• Weight: 338g• Colors: Indigo Black

Cameron is a self-made geek, Android enthusiast, horror movie fanatic, musician, and cyclist. When he's not pounding keys here at AP, you can find him spending time with his wife and kids, plucking away on the 6-string, spinning on the streets, or watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on repeat.

Hmm. The Z Ultra is at $649. Galaxy S4 is also $649. And One is at $599. I'd buy the Z Ultra over the Galaxy S4. Interesting that they launched all these with the Nexus 5 at $349/399 and the Moto G at $179/199 newly released.

Awesome selection on their store now. But my holiday treat myself money already went to a 16GB Moto G, Plantronics M50 Bluetooth Headset and a Chromecast.

Franz

I'd buy 2 Nexus 5's over any of those phones personally.

dilharo

googleplayedition pricing is upto the manufacturer

Frekko

Just wondering, If i buy a non GPE version of Lg gpad and flash the GPE rom, will the tablet behave exactly the same as Official GPE one (save for warranty) ??

miri

As well as the Z Ultra and a White Nexus 7.

miri

Also, is there a new mid size device UI? Both the renders for the Z Ultra and the G Pad have strange scaling and spacing in the nav bar and the Ultra has the nav bar on the bottom of the screen in landscape.

zevral

Officially the better Nexus 7. Better aspect ratio, faster SoC and aluminum back as well as a microSD Slot. Only thing the Nexus 7 has going for it is the lower price point.

M1lkm4n

The aspect ratio is the same: both have a resolution of 1920 x 1200

miri

Unless you count the difference in UI scaling. Though in the Nexus 7's defense, it does have much better display calibration, a slightly higher pixel density, comes in 32GB/LTE variants and gets updates come from Google.

zevral

huh, you're right. i think i mixed something up :) I really dont like 16:9 on a tablet, just crappy for surfing.

miri

*16:10

Thomas’

He said he doesn't like 16:9, not that the N7 has it.

Alberto

RAM on the G Pad is LPDDR2, sadly

Scott

Is the nexus DDR3?

Alberto

Yes, even the 1st gen Nexus 7 with 1 Gb was DDR3.

MindFever

The Nexus 7 2013 also has surround sound effect speakers,32gb of storage and it has a notification LED. Tough choice though

You forgot the most important thing though, size, yes the g pad is great and even the ipad air is great, but to me the ideal size is 7 inches, I love to read on my nexus 7 with one hand even with my nillkin case! With the G pad its very hard to me to hold it with one hand, just imagine with a folding case... So the size matters, not just specs and material.

Also the screen calibration on the nexus 7 is unbeatable right now.

But its nice to see the G pad as a google play edition, now we have a awesome 8 inch tablet to go against the Ipad mini

SoCalT

Looks like the tablet to get

qpinto

i dont see any real reason to get it other than the increased screen size. the chipset might be slightly better however you lose a lot of clarity when going to it from the n 2013. (323 vs 273 ppi). considering i use my n7 for reading primarily, thats a huge selling point.

EH101

I've got two of the normal ones, and went through 3 N7 2013s before I gave up on them. I can't tell any difference in the clarity. Maybe my eyes just aren't good enough? (had LASIK a while back, could be starting to regress already)

I will say, though, the auto-brightness on these is terrible! Someone dropped the ball calibrating that. Also, I love that this has a vibrate motor. That's one thing that always confused me with other tablets I've had over the years. I'm a sucker for haptic feedback. :P

http://billhay.es/ Bill Hayes

I do wish they'd release GPE devices outside the US. :/

rogersenen

I'm in Norway. What's the easiest way to get hold of this? I want one now..

gh0st

ebay is your best friend...

xnifex

try to get someone in the us to buy it & ship it to you.

rogersenen

Where do you live?! ;)

Zaatour36

mail forwarder, so many options available.

i know a lot of friends who use them

Oliver Bastholm

Try shopusa.com. I live in Denmark, and a few people in my family have used that site, and were happy about it. And of course you nead some kind of proxy-thing to buy it on Google Play Store.

Arthur Dent

Y U NO HAVE TRANSPARENT NAV AND STATUS BAR?!

Simon Belmont

No GEL. Plain and simple.

Until Google decides to relent on the Nexus 5's exclusivity for the GEL, other devices won't see it. I'm thinking that exclusivity won't last TOO much longer though, considering the recent Android 4.4.1 and 4.4.2 update allowed transparency in the navigation and status bar on the lock screens of devices other than the Nexus 5, so maybe the Google Play Store will see the GEL added shortly.

Gabernasher

Doesn't really explain why they wouldn't take advantage of what they added in 4.4 and put it on the stock launcher.

Cory Wilson

Me personally, I think it was a last minute decision to change the launcher on the 5 and it was rushed to be completed in time for the nexus 5 launch, and it's still not quite optimized for different screen sizes yet

Simon Belmont

No, it doesn't. It looks like work on the stock launcher isn't going to be forwarded from here on in (except maybe bug fixes in AOSP).

GEL is the future. They just haven't made it EVERYONE'S future, yet.

Björn Lundén

AOSP's Launcher3 is using the same code base as GEL. To be able to add Google Now to the leftmost view they had to make it a part of the Search apk however. In other words, they did "take advantage of what they added in 4.4 and put it on the stock launcher".

GEL is basically Launcher3 crammed into the Search apk with a few additions.

Gabernasher

I still don't get why they don't just have transparent bars. As far as I know all you have to do is enable the feature.

George M

You can load GEL with like 1 APK after 4.4 ...

Simon Belmont

Yep. I know.

It's been on my 2012 Nexus 7 since I got the original Android 4.4 OTA. It's easy breezy.

Thomas’

They also added tablet optimization to GEL, so indeed, the exclusivity should end eventually.

Simon Belmont

Indeed. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.

They really only need to fix the dock issue on the 2012 Nexus 7 and the mess on the Nexus 10. Then it's clear sailing.

pespence

Waaaant.

Zach Mauch

what are the chances we'll be able to load the GPE firmware to retail g pads? If I can do that, I'd be hunting for deals on this tablet. Really wish we had known about this in time for black friday deals. :(

Björn Lundén

Considering the hardware is supposedly identical to the V500, the chances are pretty good. The difference is the V500 has a locked bootloader but there are ways around that.

thartist

I won't buy it, but...

AAAAWWHHHH, an LG device stripped of their fawcked up interface... It feels like a breath of fresh air!

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

Hey, LG, how about you remove your logo, slap a Nexus branding, and do a 32GB+LTE variant and just call it a Nexus 8?

Thomas’

They can keep their logo. Just get rid of the awful skin from your devices and treat them like the nexus line...